Ahoy there, Star Wars followers! We’re again with one other episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi, and surprisingly it was fairly good. Not wonderful, however good. A lot better than the earlier two entries. There’s not a ton to cowl — it was primarily simply quarter-hour of exposition adopted by quarter-hour of motion — however nonetheless loads to take pleasure in.
We open with Ben nonetheless smarting from his purple sizzling encounter with Darth Vader. He floats in a Bacta tank (i.e., Star Wars‘ resolution to any drawback) and reminisces about Anakin’s mutilated corpse. They’re the identical now, you see? Finally, Ben emerges from the water and is scolded by Tala for getting water on the ground earlier than assuring our Jedi hero that they’re protected on Jabiim.
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“The place’s Leia,” Ben cries.
Nicely, it seems Reva was capable of catch our plucky little heroine following their secret cave run-in, which is a win for crew Darkish Facet contemplating the issue everybody else has had in related conditions. Leia (as a result of she’s Leia) does her greatest to bother her captors, declaring, “I’m a princess of Alderaan,” which is completely one thing a 10-year-old would do and say in such a predicament. Reva arrives and shares some unhealthy information: “Obi-Wan is lifeless. Nobody is coming for you,” which is sufficient to silence the kid in the interim.
Again with Ben and Tala, they converse with a person named Roken (now that’s a reputation I’ve not heard in a very long time), performed by O’Shea Jackson Jr., who, like each man on this present, has no want to threat his life combating in opposition to the Empire. “Get him on the primary transport out of right here,” he says, maybe not realizing that Ben can hear him. “Too many individuals are searching for you. You’ll put us all in peril.” Ben steps in and says, “I would like your assist,” which prompts Roken to say, “So does each child making a rock float from right here to Coruscant.” Like Harrison Ford as soon as stated, “You’ll be able to kind this shit …”
The most effective bit about this change is when Roken calls Ben “Common,” as a result of, nicely, he was a Common within the Clone Wars. Everybody who’s anybody is aware of the nice Obi-Wan Kenobi, which is why it was so bizarre that not one of the Stormtroopers within the earlier episode (who’re actively searching for him) acknowledged his very recognizable face.
“I can’t lose her,” Ben states for the primary time on this sequence. Somebody must remind him that he despatched Leia away with Tala earlier than making a run for it within the earlier episode. Nonetheless, all of the sudden Ben has a bounce in his step, which is nice to see. Additionally, Ewan McGregor is superior.
“I had a spouse as soon as,” Roken shoots again. “I knew what she was earlier than we acquired married. We tried to cover it. And the Inquisitors discovered her anyway.” That’s both a very unhappy story or the plot to Braveheart. At any charge, Roken in some way convinces himself to assist Ben together with his trigger they usually talk about an assault on Fortress Inquisitorius. What a reputation! Like, who considered that? We even have Fortress Vader, which makes me marvel what number of different fortresses there are. Fortress Stormtrooprius? Fortress Sithius?
Roken and a few man named Wade’s general positivity is offset by Adverse Sully, who pops in to shoot down everybody’s hopes and goals. “It’s impenetrable, Wade,” “Reality is, no person is aware of what it appears like in there,” “Yeah, nicely, we’re not troopers. These speeders are for hauling sewage,” “You’ll be able to barely stand, you’re not entering into there.” Somebody get this sizzling head outta right here!
Tala decides she’s going with Ben and hopes that her cowl as an Imperial Officer remains to be intact. Trace: it most likely is.
Subsequent, we get a quick second of Ben truly utilizing the Pressure to tug a tool throughout a desk. Tala interrupts this train to inform Ben (and the viewers) that he cares about Leia. Present, don’t inform Star Wars.
Again with Reva, the evil Inquisitor interrogates Leia whereas a Stormtrooper stands guard, which appears a little bit drastic for a 10-year-old prisoner. Irrespective of, Moses Ingram does an excellent job on this scene, as does Vivien Lyra Blair. Although, somebody ought to inform our villainous Inquisitor that vacant threats/guarantees don’t work on pint-sized heroes. In these cases, a stuffed animal (or marshmallow) would go a good distance.
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(Facet word: the difficulty I’ve with Leia is that she hasn’t undergone any type of fascinating character arc. Once we first met her in Episode 1, she was feisty and powerful. Three episodes later and … she’s feisty and powerful. Think about if she behaved how an precise little one would below such situations — you realize, scared? — after which discovered her braveness because the season progressed. Primarily, we’re meant to imagine Leia has at all times been a troublesome cookie, which implies her persona by no means modified all through her 60-year lifespan. I’m loads totally different immediately than I used to be once I was 10, however a lifetime of evading scholar mortgage collectors will try this to an individual.)
Our heroes arrive on the Fortress. Tala heads to the safety checkpoint as Stormtroopers wander in regards to the touchdown zone attempting to look busy. She occurs upon the Empire equal of a mall cop and pulls rank. “I’m your commanding officer, and you’ll deal with me as ‘Sir,’” she orders. Her bluff works and the mall cop permits her to move. She instantly goes to a console and really noticeably will get as much as no good, however no person pays a lot consideration to those officers, amirite?
Prequel nerds probably danced with pleasure to see Ben swimming underwater utilizing that bizarre respiration equipment he and Qui-Gon utilized in The Phantom Menace. It’s like poetry, it rhymes, a terrific man as soon as stated. Ben makes his method contained in the Fortress and instantly snaps a Stormtrooper’s neck. Good.
Reva tries to make use of the Pressure to extract knowledge from Leia, however the little one is just too sturdy — which appears counterproductive from a personality standpoint if the author’s purpose is to make Reva threatening — and so the Inquisitor’s subsequent transfer is to torture her Mickey Mouse droid. Now, if Leia would acknowledge that this droid has no soul, feels no ache, and is mainly a strolling battery, then Reva’s plan would fail. However, since Leia believes in equality for robots, this second is pure torture.
Again with Tala, she’s having a tough time preserving her mission below wraps, stating fairly loudly, “God, have a look at this place. What are they preserving down there?” Is that this the primary time somebody has talked about God in Star Wars? Figuring out Disney, they probably dropped within the reference to pave the way in which for a particular look from God in later episodes earlier than leaping to his personal spin-off sequence. Additionally, what are they preserving down there? What if it’s simply one other Rancor and Ben will get to journey it? I’m betting 72.3% of followers would forgive each subject they’ve with this clunky sequence if that occurs.
Lastly, quarter-hour into the fourth episode, Ben truly turns into Obi-Wan Kenobi and begins doing the type of stuff we needed to see him do from the start of the sequence. He makes use of the Pressure to distract some guards and finally pulls out his lightsaber to cut up anybody who steps in his path while operating by means of the corridors of Disney’s Rise of the Resistance journey. Truly, wait. I acquired forward of myself. He’s nonetheless simply Ben proper now.
Again with Reva, Leia acts like a brat and the Inquisitor says what all mother and father want they might say to their little one — “I hope you want ache” — earlier than summoning two guards to haul the child to the Empire’s elaborate torture chamber. It’s purple as a result of it’s evil. (Blair is nice on this scene.)
Ben finds the Fortress’ huge secret — a bunch of our bodies encased in what appears like amber. Are they cloning these folks as a result of that appears like the identical kind of substance these mosquitoes had been caught in again at Jurassic Park?
Now comes the second the place Ben morphs into Obi-Wan, whips out his lightsaber, and engages in some Stormtrooper killin’. Our first glimpse of motion sees Leia’s torture room go darkish, adopted by the recognizable pssshhew sound of a lightsaber. Obi-Wan makes mince meat of the 2 troopers standing guard, saves Leia, and proceeds to do some depraved Jedi motion. The place was this stage of high quality within the earlier three episodes? I like how our Jedi energy battles his method by means of various troopers, deflecting lasers left and proper; and even makes use of them to blast door controls. Extra of this, please.
At one level, a laser makes a crack in a window and Obi-Wan makes use of the Pressure to push the water on the opposite aspect in the direction of the incoming Stormtroopers. Go Obi-Wan, go! (Nonetheless, the place are the basic Star Wars music cues?) This whole sequence evokes recollections of Luke, Han, and Leia’s adventures aboard the Demise Star, leaping from one climax to the opposite. Besides, Obi-Wan and Co. aren’t on the Demise Star and Luke remains to be pretending his igloo is a spaceship. We acquired a loooong methods to go youngsters.
After regrouping with Tala, the threesome once more stroll onto the busy touchdown dock however are shortly stopped by Reva. (Hats off to Ingram on this episode.) Fortunately, a pair of snowspeeders (?) present up and save the day. I like how Reva destroys one of many escaping craft out of pure spite — the one pushed by Wade, no much less. Too unhealthy, he was a optimistic chap. Now, we’re left with Adverse Sully, who will little question be insufferable after witnessing Wade’s demise.
We are able to’t course of our feelings, although, as a result of Darth Vader leaps on display screen, and Pressure chokes Reva, noting that he informed her what would occur if she failed. Contemplating Reva by no means acknowledged the Darkish Lord’s threats within the earlier episode, possibly she will be able to plead ignorance? The opposite two Inquisitors (who’ve but to do something on this present) watch with delight as this problematic Third Sister will get her comeuppance.
“I allow them to go,” Reva manages by means of the ache. Apparently, she put a tracker on Leia’s droid, which is a savvy sufficient transfer to attract reward from Vader. I imply, if that’s all it takes to impress the massive man Admiral Piett probably wracked up a gazillion Officer of the Month awards earlier than his tragic and noble demise in Return of the Jedi.
Again with our heroes, Adverse Sully leads the weary get together to the ship’s cabin the place they take pleasure in a quiet second collectively. Leia even holds Obi-Wan’s hand — awwwww. The digicam pans over to her droid and dammit, that’s why you possibly can’t belief something that may be hacked into! The damned factor is bugged and all of the sudden I’m questioning if this complete occasion is the explanation Leia treats C-3P0 like shit within the unique trilogy.
Cue credit.
Total, this was simply the perfect episode of the season. At a brisk half-hour, the pacing by no means lagged; and the motion scenes truly carried some heft. To not beat a lifeless horse, but when Disney doesn’t need to take the time or effort to make six actually good episodes, then simply give us three … and even two. Hell, make a two-hour film. Once more, high quality over amount, please.
I’ll give this entry a strong 8. Shout out to the solid, significantly Ingram and Varma who held their very own on this go-round. And it was nice to lastly see Obi-Wan do one thing worthwhile on his present. With simply two episodes left, right here’s hoping the sequence goes out with a bang!
Odds and Ends
- The place was Vader all through this episode? I’m curious as to why he can’t sense Obi-Wan until he’s solely 10-feet away. Additionally, why does he proceed to have Reva do his soiled work? He ought to hop on a ship and chase down his former grasp himself.
- Additionally, in these cases, why doesn’t anybody ever chase after the nice guys? I imply, clearly, that base had various ships on standby. Whereas they’d an excellent 5-minute begin, it’s most likely value it to ship up some plane simply in case.
- I nonetheless suppose Reva turns to the nice aspect sooner or later, although it is likely to be onerous for her to elucidate why she’s killed so many individuals. She did poor Wade soiled.
- Apparently, there are lots of Pressure-sensitive youngsters lingering about … no less than, that’s what I took away from Roken. Are all of them on Jabiim?
- It was nice to see Obi-Wan decked out in his Clone Wars garb doing what he does greatest. I’m curious to see how highly effective he turns into by season’s finish. He has to do one thing to make Vader imagine he’s nonetheless the grasp, proper? Or was he simply talking in generalities when he stated that?
- The Empire wants to rent sharper folks to do its bidding. Tala 100% didn’t behave like an Imperial Officer, but she in some way satisfied a handful of troopers that was their superior. She virtually satisfied Reva!
- Leia will use the Pressure. I’m calling it.
- I anticipated this episode to be filler, so it was good to see that it offered some enjoyable motion … even when it didn’t actually transfer the plot ahead. Reva might have simply as simply tagged Leia within the earlier episode and tracked her to Jabiim with out lacking a beat. Nonetheless, at this level, I’ll take no matter motion this sequence can muster. Particularly when it’s good.
